So I'm a jeep virgin and I'm looking into a 1970 Kaiser Jeep.. Problem: There is no top and no doors. This is California, it rains! I can't seem to find tops anywhere! Are there universal ragtops for this model? Do I need doors to have a ragtop? This might be a dumb question to a lot of you, but any help and advice is greatly appreciated.

A starting point, perhaps...... I used to have a 1975 CJ5.......PITA to find OEM stuff for....

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"For Gawd's sake, put a RELAY in there or you could burn the whole damn Jeep to the ground" ...this quote brought to you by people who do not understand the law.....Kirchoff's, Ohm's, or Faraday's.
Violation of KISS shall always ring false in TRUE engineering. - ME___
Had 75CJ5, 89YJ, 93YJ. Have 82CJ7 & 95YJ____Not one burnt yet due to lack of relays.

So I'm a jeep virgin and I'm looking into a 1970 Kaiser Jeep.. Problem: There is no top and no doors. This is California, it rains! I can't seem to find tops anywhere! Are there universal ragtops for this model? Do I need doors to have a ragtop? This might be a dumb question to a lot of you, but any help and advice is greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the Jeep world! I love that era of Jeeps. What engine does the Jeep have? I like the Dauntless V6. It's a peppy little thing, and you can soup it up a bit and not worry about California emissions 'cuz it's grandfathered. Have fun!!!

Welcome to the Jeep world! I love that era of Jeeps. What engine does the Jeep have? I like the Dauntless V6. It's a peppy little thing, and you can soup it up a bit and not worry about California emissions 'cuz it's grandfathered. Have fun!!!

Cool ! ! ! Just a bit of history..... If it has an original V6, the engine was originally built by Buick. Kaiser-Jeep then bought the design to put into Jeeps, and called it the "Dauntless" V6. It's a great little engine, but it does idle kind of funny (due to an unusual cylinder firing order). Just 'cuz your Jeep may idle rough, it may be entirely normal with the Daunless! A '71 CJ5 with the Dauntless "lives" at my house!

Cool ! ! ! Just a bit of history..... If it has an original V6, the engine was originally built by Buick. Kaiser-Jeep then bought the design to put into Jeeps, and called it the "Dauntless" V6. It's a great little engine, but it does idle kind of funny (due to an unusual cylinder firing order). Just 'cuz your Jeep may idle rough, it may be entirely normal with the Daunless! A '71 CJ5 with the Dauntless "lives" at my house!

It is my understanding that the Dauntles V-6 was originally a V-8 block that was chopped off to create the V-6. They kept the V-8 firing order which then created the "Odd-Fire" 225 V-6. I have it in my 1966 CJ-5 Tuxedo Park and I love the motor. There is a lot of room to work on it and it very easy to service. Light weight with approximately 165 hp. Takes me where ever I want to go.

I have had a 1966 CJ5 for 16 years now. Yes they still make tops but they do not fit very well. It takes a lot of fiddling with to get them right. You will need door "frames" for the fabric doors that come with the top. The doors will be removeable if you are inclined to do so.

CJ5's are the best looking jeep of all time (I think) outsde the WWII versions. But it will take some extra maint. to keep it driveable. All parts are not too hard to find. They are out there.

I would not want to use mine as a daily driver. No power steering, no power brakes, no Nader bars in the door, no airbag, no ABS, no 4 way flasher, on and on. But what it will do is bring a satisfied smile to your face when you feel it flex under you on a nice off road trail. It will feel as surefooted as a goat with lots of feedback.
Many times I have followed really built jeeps in my old stocker CJ-5 and when we reached the top of the hill they turned around and said "How did you do that, how did you make it up here?".

Once you learn its quirks, its strong points and its weak areas it will serve you well and be a blast to drive everytime you get behind the wheel.

First thing, buy the FSM. The Factory Service Manual. It will cover most of what you will need to know maint. wise. Then hang out in forums like this one and read and ask questions.